guess. so now he's talking about possibly delaying chuck hagel's nomination. and also wayne lapierre. this is very important. because if you look at the profiles of all the people that committed these mass murders in newtown and aurora and across -- virginia tech, they are all hispanic drug gang leaders. and that's exactly what wayne lapierre said in an op-ed that americans need to buy guns because those latin americans are coming to america, and they're going to kill you people. this is who a lot of republicans in congress are thinking about falling off -- don't do it. don't hurt our party anymore. let wayne lapierre go wherever he wants to go. he's going to destroy the party. we're going to talk about the crazy op-ed has horrible for our party's image, horrible for the conservative movement's image, goes against everything ronald reagan stood for. we'll talk about that in a minute. first, breaking news. this is bizarre. the feel-good story of the olympic games involved in possibly murder. >> this was a total jaw-dropper this morning. oscar pistorius, for those people who don't know, is a

screamer of fire in the theater? wayne lapierre. watch him go to work. he just sent out a mass manifesto linking a lifeline from every spooked out crowd in the country from one to the other asking them all to arm themselves while there's still time, arm themselves. afraid of looting after a storm? get a gun. upset by illegal immigration? get a gun. don't like crime or drugs, get yourself a damn gun, man. that's the wayne lapierre message today. worried about the debt crisis? worried about the chaos coming afterwards -- you know the drill -- get a gun. arm yourself, america. it's not just a right, it's a duty. it's not just about uncle sam who is coming to get you in one of those black helicopters, it's that mob at the gate headed over the rio grande as we speak and right for your house up in idaho, right as we speak. lock and load. do it now. there's not much time. they're coming for you. you think this is crazy? well, this is wayne lapierre talking, the head of the nra, and what does that tell you? it tells you about a new division in america between the confident people who t

nra's chief executive, wayne lapierre, continued his spirited defense of gun rights this weekend. speaking with fox news's chris wallace about that controversial nra ad that brought the president's children into the gun debate. >> the president's kids are safe, and we're all thankful for it. >> they also face a threat that most children do not face. >> tell that to the people of newtown. tell that -- >> you really think that the president's children are the same kind of target as every schoolchild in america? that's ridiculous and you know it, sir. >> you know, unfortunately, i think there are parents all over the school that -- all over the country that think their kids are entitled to the same amount of protection when they go to school. >> so they should have secret service? >> no, but what they should have is police officers or certified armed security in those schools to keep people safe. >> you talk -- one of the points of that ad that i want to ask you about is you made it a class argument. the rich, the elite. >> sure. >> they have bodyguards. they have security. >> sure.

. wayne lapierre, appearing with chris wallace over the weekend, talking about what he believes is the president's stance that he's not being public about. take a listen. >> they leafletted the country with flyers like this, obama's not going to take your gun, obama will protect gun rights, and now he's trying to take away all three. i mean, what they'll do is they'll turn this universal check on the law-abiding into a universal registry of law-abiding people and law-abiding people don't want that. >> sir, it seems to be that wayne lapierre has come out against any type of reform in any general direction that's been discussed so far. when it comes to the second amendment and as someone who has suffered at the hands of an accidental gunshot, what are your feelings about how the left can be better communicating the fact that while support of the second amendment is universal, there needs to be some control of the guns in this country when it comes to the current regulation. >> well, it's interesting because i also saw a clip of mr. wayne lapierre over the weekend where he was speakin

be another new problem for some moderate voter, wayne lapierre, he runs the nra. i want to read you a snippet of this op-ed piece. "after hurricane sandy we saw the hellish world that the gun prohibitionists see as their utopia, looters ran wild in south brooklyn." didn't happen. "there was food, water, electricities, hurricanes, tornadoes, riots, terrorists, gangs, lone criminals, these are perils we are sure to face. not just maybes. it's not paranoia to buy a gun, it's survival, responsible behavior and it's time we encourage law-abiding americans to do just that." many including joe scarborough said the op-ed was laced with "racial overtones" among other things. what is wayne lapierre doing for the republican party? >> wayne lapierre is representing his organization. whether he's trying to fold into his organization. >> long identified with the gop. >> there's a difference between the nra and the rnc. he's doing what he's paid to do and representing it. the nice thing the democrats are doing are lopping the two groups together so i do understand that he's long supported a lot of

people and seen certainly wayne lapierre and some of these others, it's bizarre, they have this vision that we're living in a "mad max" movie and the idea that we have a police force that provides public safety is somehow totally impractical despite the fact that is, in fact, the way we live, so i think that the terms of the debate have shifted. now the craziness of the extreme pro-gun lobby has been revealed and that has got to move the debate -- it's got to move the legislation at least some degree. >> are you comfortable with where the nra has been on this? >> i am. this is a perfect example why people believe washington is broke. this horrific incident in newtown, and here what is our debate? it's focusing on guns when there is not one person at this table who really believes that that's the root of what happened there and -- when we have people that get into the mind-set that they want to harm people, as a former mayor, i know people will get guns no matter what laws we pass, just like the illegal drug -- >> i caught you on a false statement there because at least i do believe tha

, connecticut, which left 26 people dead, nra ceo wayne lapierre has pushed the narrative more guns means a safer america. gun rights activists have embraced this claim, with some going even further than that and capitalizing on the national discussion. a youth hockey league in fargo, north dakota, with players as young as 4 years old plans to give away 200 firearms in a raffle. it's a great fundraiser for them. the new hampshire association of chiefs of police is raffling off 31 firearms, including semiautomatic weapons. and the latest all around pizzas and deli in virginia beach, virginia, is offering 15% discount if you carry openly to the store or show them a concealed weapons permit. here is a happy customer posing with her son's semiautomatic rifle. it's fun for the whole family, isn't it, young and old. see, in virginia it's legal to carry a gun into banks, hospitals, stores, movie theaters, restaurants, and open carry is even allowed in bars. sounds like a great idea. let's see, guns and alcohol, mix them together, nothing is going to happen. here is what more guns have led to in

sunday" of chris wallace and wayne lapierre. it was a hostile back and forth. let's play it. >> the president's kids are safe and we're all thankful for it. the point 0 of that ad -- >> they also face a threat most children don't face. >> tell that to the people in newtown. >> do you think that the president's children are the same kind of target as every school child in america? that's ridiculous and you know it, sir. >> you know, unfortunately, i think there are parents all over the school -- all over the country that think their kids are entitled to the same amount of protection going to school and they want their -- >> they should have secret service? >> no. but what they should have is police officers or certified armed security in the schools to keep people safe. >> hogan, you have a large conservative audience watching that and told by chris wallace he's ridiculous. how does that or how does he recover? does the nra have credibility? >> they do but i think losing it rap rapidly. they have talked about things they're against than for. they're for safe america. how do they do t

wayne lapierre, who made up a story recently that south brooklyn was a hellish world, where looters ran wild in the aftermath of super storm sandy. on facebook, ingrid writes the man lives in his own world of violence and an impending apocalypse. linda bauer calls it fearmongering, the nra's constant ploy to sell guns. and kevin says lapierre's level of paranoid delusion underscores the need for tighter gun control. you can go to our facebook now and join in on the conversation. and don't forget to like "the ed show" when you're there. we appreciate that. >>> "hubris," the book and the documentary by the same name have ripped open new information on the lead-up to the war in iraq. david corn is here for more tonight, and we'll be right back. old mop. but don't worry, he'll find someone else. ♪ who's that lady? ♪ who's that lady? ♪ sexy lady ♪ who's that lady? [ female announcer ] used mops can grow bacteria. swiffer wetjet starts with a clean pad every time, and its antibacterial cleaner kills bacteria mops can spread around. swiffer gives cleaning a whole new meaning. ♪ l

on occasion. i know wayne lapierre. he's always been extremely pleasant to me. we have a good relationship. so i am not here to demean the organization. >> but they are resisting almost everything you talked about and we talked about here, everything the president has called for. >> george, just because they resist it doesn't mean we can't do things. i mean, we have a lot of special interest groups that come and complain about things and we don't listen to them. we'll listen to them and make the right decision. >> but will you commit to getting something done? >> yes, i definitely want to do something with immigration for sure and i want to get something done on guns. >> then we've got the big issue -- >> george, let's not limit this conversation only to guns. there are other issues, very important issues, mental health, i mean, gee-whiz, we've got to do something on that. that's certainly the truth. >> let's talk about another huge issue this year, the sequester issue this year, the sequester across-the-board budget cut will hit on march 1st. you talked to leading republicans

arguments for sensible gun control, background checks and the like is wayne lapierre, whenever he goes on the air, i think he illustrates just how radical and crazy this wing of the nra is. i don't think that represents the actual view of the majority of nra members. >> it does not. >> i don't know, i don't know. >> mika, 80% of nra members support universal background checks. a majority of nra members support getting rid of these high capacity magazines. i'm telling you the overwhelming majority of nra members are hunters and people that want to support -- >> double the price and making them sell out. >> the survivalist wing of the nra. >> there's a lot of them. >> you say there's a lot of them. >> a lot of gun owners and people buying guns. people want their second amendment rights. the clash -- we're kind of not having the right conversation. this has to be about common sense gun safety and live and breathe in memories of people who died not just chicago or newtown and the last decade or so. we're too caught in wayne lapierre and rhetoric, to me nra is about buying and selling guns, no

the constitution. >> john: i think we made our arguments. i do believe that wayne lapierre bears a responsibility for the massacre culture. can you elaborate on that. >> absolutely. the whole idea of the nra 20 years ago when they were making their big turn to the right--i'm sorry i'm old, it's more like 30 years ago, it's about stopping crime. all of these--the idea of the vigilante, the dirty harry type, none of these people who are out there shooting up these schools you know, none of these people are the classic nra villain types. they don't have a robbed. it's the opposite, people on delusional revenge fantasy precisely what you see in nra culture. >> john: thomas frankcal almostist for harper's magazine. thank you so much for your time and insight tonight. >> absolutely. >> john: what is america talking about? political families and our non-political oscars, more coming up. save them. woolite everyday cleans your jeans and won't torture your tanks. woolite washed clothes look like new, longer. the bar harbor bake is really worth trying. [ male announcer ] get more during red

, this is very, very big news. obviously, wayne lapierre, who's a guy that i -- i support the second amendment. i think maybe they should ship him to france for a couple years. >> i think he hurt the movement. i think it's made it easier to sit there and say, wait a minute, whose side do you want to be on? they've been bad spokespeople on this front. it has made it easier for a tom coburn, who by the way is probably going to be the lynch pin here. schumer has been negotiating with him. they want to get coburn as a co-spon ssor on the background check. >> diane feinstein, chuck schumer. these people, they cannot push the republicans in any direction whatsoever. but wayne lapierre's mistakes, mika, week after week after week, his horrific performance on fox -- >> every single one was a cringer. >> the stupid thing they did with their gun app that little kids could play. on the month anniversary of the sandy hook slaughter. the commercial going after the president's kids. wayne lapierre did more to damage the nra than any democrat or liberal could ever do. >> he totally did. i can't ima

again so does wayne lapierre. [♪ theme music ♪] >> michael: guns and voting were the dominate themes in washington today and we'll get to both in a minute but first let's quickly update you on where we stand with the sequester. the white house did make a move today. they invited congressional leadership to meet with the president on friday to try to find a way around the $85 billion in mandatory cuts. you might be saying friday isn't that locking the barn after the horse is out? turns out president obama can order the cuts any time on march 1st. so washington's deadline for a deal is now 11:59 pm friday night, and should a deal get done, i'm sure they will use up every last minute. chuck hagel wasn't exactly radiant his first day on the job. >> budget, sequestration, i don't need to dwell on all of the good news there. that's a reality. we need to figure this out. >> we certainly do. jack lew was confirmed as treasury secretary today. now to the news on guns and capitol hill where emotions are running high and rightfully so. they held a hearing to examine banning assault weapons. thi

everybody wanted. but the nra wayne lapierre that went on tv a week after the connecticut massacre he that is what is wrong with that endorsement. >> the women donors network put out poll, what we learned is that the last organization they want to hear about on issues of safety or the last group they want to hear about is the nra. even women in nra households. a third of the women who were polled own guns in their household. it's time for people in congress to understand that women are prepared to vote on these issues. they're also prepared to take action. the nra of today as christine said is not the nra of yesterday. >> jennifer: interesting stuff. thank you for joining me in "the war room." jill alper and christine pelosi. up next, the equivalent of in and out burgers the sustenance that we like to call the best of the rest. and then the equivalent of day day-old bread, our own. brett erlich. >> coming up, john mccain, beyonce phil spector and the boy scouts and other people i've invited to your surprise birthday party. don't go away. is >> jennifer: cenk uygur leading "the young t

long time, that wayne lapierre not only is out of the mainstream, but he's out of touch with his own membership, with the nra, which is to say when he says that nobody wants universal background checks and then you look at the numbers, and it's something like 90% of americans want them, there is a desire for some measures. not extreme to go take their guns away, but there is a desire in this country, not just from democrats and liberals, but from americans as we saw there to do something about guns. >> the numbers have shifted dramatically, john heilemann. like they haven't shifted in recent history. and last night there was a special election. it was in a democratic seat to replace jesse jackson. a lot of people are scoffing about it. conservatives immediately because michael bloomberg went in. there was a candidate that was in a competitive race who was supported by the nra. bloomberg came in. and it changed everything overnight. >> he did. and he spent, i believe, $2 million on that race in a media market like chicago in a race at this level, $2 million is a lot of money. it's a l

association's leader, wayne lapierre when he said this. >> the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. >> all right. back with me is civil rights attorney, maya whiley, new york university professor, nick and former staffer for new york mayor mike bloomberg now against gun violence, dena, is that correct? got it. i am bad at people's names. i want to start with you. i spent some time last night and this morning reading this text reducing gun violence in america and mayor bloomberg wrote the forward to the text making the claim it is all gun violence. suicide rates here in new york. not only do we keep people from being killed in homicides with guns, we have lower gun suicide rates. once you don't have a gun you can't shoot anybody. it feels like a basic argument. >> it's absolutely true. the statistics bear that out. states that have universal background checks or stronger background check laws have half the suicides than states that don't have those laws in place. almost 40% of women -- 40% fewer women are shot and killed by intimate partners in states with b

the party of ronald reagan or wayne lapierre. >> i'm not sure ronald reagan could get elected today. >> there's no doubt ronald reagan would support universal background checks. who doesn't support universal background checks? who doesn't support the end of gun trafficking? you know who doesn't support it? people inside the little republican bubble in the house of representatives and some democrats who are scared, jim. the numbers are overwhelming. this is a 90-10 issue now. >> thick wh i think what the pr wants to do with this speech tonight is continue to make republicans look cartoonish with gun control. what they would like to see tomorrow are images of victims you just painted sitting in the chamber side by side with representative stockman and ted nugent and whatever they will say after the speech and you know they will say extremely - ex-send yex the things that ted nugent will say. >> it plays into the president's hand. i always talk about we republicans having to win not northwest florida where i'm from. we will always win there. we have to win in the i-4 corridor and subur

between the nra and white house continue today with wayne lapierre slamming the president. >> well, the same thing during the campaign when he said i will not take away your rifles, shotgun, handgun. they leafletted the country with fliers like this, obama is not going to take your gun, obama will protect gun rights. and now he's trying to take away all three. >> the white house disputes that assertion, and it comes just as the president is about to head to minnesota to talk gun control tomorrow. joining me now with more on all of this, nbc news white house correspondent peter alexander. first of all, why minnesota? >> it's a good question. the white house has made it very clear this, of course, is the first trip for the president. they say there will be others. vice president biden has been to virginia already, pushing their anti-gun violence efforts. minnesota, minneapolis specifically has some relevance here. it was only last september where a gunman killed six people including himself in a workplace shooting. it is a state that has a longtime culture of gun ownership. nearly one in

, basically supporting the background check bill, showing testimony of wayne lapierre supporting a background check. here is a little bit of that ad. >> the nra once supported background checks. >> we think it's reasonable to provide mandatory instant criminal background checks for every sale at every gun show. no loopholes anywhere for anyone. >> all right. i'll admit i need quick answers here. can a southern republican vote for the background check bill and get re-elected? >> a licensed dealer at a gun show already does a background check. that's already going on. what we're talking about is antique and special collectors and private sales. i think that's very difficult to legislate properly without killing gun show. >> there is a rural split almost more than anything else. urban politics are more supportive of this idea. >> yes. but i think both the southern republican and the urban republican should all be voting for universal background checks. look, connecticut was a game changer. we need to understand that. the gun issue is here. it's not going away. every other day, we are hearing abo

like wayne lapierre who opposes background checks, is it your view, sir, that republicans like yourself are maybe beginning to rethink their allegiance to the gun lobby? >> well, what we're doing here today i think reflects common sense common ground and what's right for america -- >> but does it, sir, reflect republicans like yourself beginning to realize that some of the things that have been coming from the leadership of the nra are simply nonsensical and nonrepresentative of the vast majority of its own membership? >> look, i think the nra through the years has done a lot of good thing, and i'm proud of my membership in the nra. now, that said, i'm a businessman turned public servant, and i focus on that which i can get done, and we look for common ground, and that's why elijah and i are working so well together, representative carolyn maloney out of new york, pat meehan out of pennsylvania, one a demeanor, one a republican. we said what's right for america? we weren't focusing on trying to critique then ra. we aren't trying to focus on labeling. i think we're trying to adv